H.A.R.S. Air Museum Midweek Run

03 June 2018 / Words: Wal and Jane Hick, Photos: Norm Barker

On a beautiful foggy Wednesday morning seven MX5s from the Canberra chapter headed off from Queanbeyan for Bungendore where they were joined by another three cars, making a group of 10 cars and 16 people heading for the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society museum in Albion Park. 

The fog cleared and a magnificent blue sky appeared for the rest of the day. As we made our way to Tarago, the autumn scenery was colourful and the road empty. On to Nerriga and the road turned into a perfect MX5 trip to Nowra. Morning tea stop was at McDonald’s South Nowra where the temperature was quite warm and it was time to dispense with our coats and scarves. As soon as coffee and eats were consumed we continued up the Princes highway, through Nowra, past Berry and Kiama, with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, and into the H.A.R.S. museum. Jane had organised lunch at the museum cafeteria and food was excellent, and with people’s meals pre-ordered the service was very efficient.

Tour guides had been arranged and we broke into two groups, with our one and a half hour tour taking two and a half hours but the guides were most knowledgeable and happy to answer many questions. There is an extensive range of aircraft, ranging from Tiger Moth to F1-11, a Qantas 747, Dakota, Catalina and lots more (even a impounded light plane which had belonged to drug couriers who landed illegally at the airport). The $15 a head for the tour was certainly great value and all the whole organisation is run by volunteers.

We left later than planned and had a brisk trip up the Macquarie Pass and some of our number had coffee and pies at Robertson before heading home. A great mid week outing. We can certainly recommend this as a good day out.